By road, Campeche and Kabah are about 88 miles (142 km) apart, or roughly 2 h 5 min of driving.
| Distance by road | 88 mi (142 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 5 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-180 → CA-M → MEX-261 |
| Mexican states on the route | Campeche, Yucatán |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 3.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
Driving this route in a car with U.S. plates
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Required: this route is outside the zones where U.S.-registered cars can skip the temporary import permit (Baja California, Baja California Sur and part of Sonora) |
|---|---|
| Mexican auto insurance | Required for all vehicles: buy a Mexican policy before you drive |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Mexico travel information (updated August 11, 2026); permits are issued by Banjercito.
The Campeche–Kabah drive in a few lines
MEX-180 (46 mi) and CA-M (19 mi) carry about 74% of the 88 miles. It runs through 2 states: Campeche, Yucatán. Of the 3 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Campeche to Kabah
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Campeche |
| connecting roads | 4–6 | 2 | Campeche |
| MEX-180 | 6–52 | 46 | Campeche |
| CA-M | 52–71 | 19 | Campeche, Yucatán |
| local roads | 71–74 | 3 | Yucatán |
| MEX-261 | 74–88 | 14 | Yucatán |
- Mile 59 of this route: Campeche → Yucatán (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Campeche and Kabah
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de Arqueología Maya del Camino Real de Hecelchakán (mile 37), Uxmal (mile 75)
- Museums and history: Museo de Arqueología Maya del Camino Real de Hecelchakán (mile 37), Uxmal (mile 75)
Museo de Arqueología Maya del Camino Real de Hecelchakán
On Highway 180 about 40 miles north of Campeche city, Hecelchakán's INAH museum displays Maya archaeology from the Camino Real region. It is the only museum of its kind along this historic route toward Calkiní.
Xkipche
In the Puuc region of Yucatán, Xkipche is a Maya archaeological site with many Puuc-style buildings from the Classic period; its main structure is a two-story palace with several rooms.
Uxmal
Founded around A.D. 700, the Maya city of Uxmal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where Puuc-style buildings such as the Pyramid of the Soothsayer, the Governor's Palace and the Nunnery Quadrangle carry carvings of the rain god Chaac.
In Kabah itself
Kabah
Kabah is a Maya archaeological site in the Puuc region south of Mérida, inscribed in 1996 together with Uxmal, Sayil and Labna as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sayil
Sayil is a pre-Columbian city built by the Maya in the Terminal Classic period, located in southwestern Yucatán state, south of Uxmal.
More drives to Kabah
- Hecelchakán to Kabah
- Champotón to Kabah
- Teapa to Kabah
- Tapijulapa to Kabah
- Ocosingo to Kabah
- Motul to Kabah
From Campeche to other places in Mexico
- Campeche to Izamal
- Campeche to Cuzamá
- Campeche to Motul
- Campeche to Progreso
- Campeche to Celestún
- Campeche to Espita
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Campeche to Kabah?
About 2 h 5 min of driving without stops, over 88 miles.
How far is Kabah from Campeche by car?
About 88 miles (142 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
Do I need a permit to drive my U.S. car from Campeche to Kabah?
Yes. A temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) is required for a U.S.-registered car on this route, which is outside the zones where it can be skipped. Mexican auto insurance is required for every vehicle.
Is it safe to drive from Campeche to Kabah?
The U.S. State Department rates Campeche Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Yucatán Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Campeche to Kabah?
In order: MEX-180, CA-M and MEX-261. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Campeche to Kabah?
Closest to the road: Museo de Arqueología Maya del Camino Real de Hecelchakán (museum, mile 37, 0.4 mi from the route); Xkipche (maya site, mile 67, 3 mi from the route); Uxmal (archaeological site, mile 75, 0.4 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on September 29, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.